Astronomy Newsletter 2014
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Messier Objects
Messier Objects From the Stocker Astroscience Center at Florida International University Miami Florida The Messier Project Main contributors: • Daniel Puentes • Steven Revesz • Bobby Martinez Charles Messier • Gabriel Salazar • Riya Gandhi • Dr. James Webb – Director, Stocker Astroscience center • All images reduced and combined using MIRA image processing software. (Mirametrics) What are Messier Objects? • Messier objects are a list of astronomical sources compiled by Charles Messier, an 18th and early 19th century astronomer. He created a list of distracting objects to avoid while comet hunting. This list now contains over 110 objects, many of which are the most famous astronomical bodies known. The list contains planetary nebula, star clusters, and other galaxies. - Bobby Martinez The Telescope The telescope used to take these images is an Astronomical Consultants and Equipment (ACE) 24- inch (0.61-meter) Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope. It has a focal ratio of F6.2 and is supported on a structure independent of the building that houses it. It is equipped with a Finger Lakes 1kx1k CCD camera cooled to -30o C at the Cassegrain focus. It is equipped with dual filter wheels, the first containing UBVRI scientific filters and the second RGBL color filters. Messier 1 Found 6,500 light years away in the constellation of Taurus, the Crab Nebula (known as M1) is a supernova remnant. The original supernova that formed the crab nebula was observed by Chinese, Japanese and Arab astronomers in 1054 AD as an incredibly bright “Guest star” which was visible for over twenty-two months. The supernova that produced the Crab Nebula is thought to have been an evolved star roughly ten times more massive than the Sun. -
The Puzzling Nature of Dwarf-Sized Gas Poor Disk Galaxies
Dissertation submitted to the Department of Physics Combined Faculties of the Astronomy Division Natural Sciences and Mathematics University of Oulu Ruperto-Carola-University Oulu, Finland Heidelberg, Germany for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences Put forward by Joachim Janz born in: Heidelberg, Germany Public defense: January 25, 2013 in Oulu, Finland THE PUZZLING NATURE OF DWARF-SIZED GAS POOR DISK GALAXIES Preliminary examiners: Pekka Heinämäki Helmut Jerjen Opponent: Laura Ferrarese Joachim Janz: The puzzling nature of dwarf-sized gas poor disk galaxies, c 2012 advisors: Dr. Eija Laurikainen Dr. Thorsten Lisker Prof. Heikki Salo Oulu, 2012 ABSTRACT Early-type dwarf galaxies were originally described as elliptical feature-less galax- ies. However, later disk signatures were revealed in some of them. In fact, it is still disputed whether they follow photometric scaling relations similar to giant elliptical galaxies or whether they are rather formed in transformations of late- type galaxies induced by the galaxy cluster environment. The early-type dwarf galaxies are the most abundant galaxy type in clusters, and their low-mass make them susceptible to processes that let galaxies evolve. Therefore, they are well- suited as probes of galaxy evolution. In this thesis we explore possible relationships and evolutionary links of early- type dwarfs to other galaxy types. We observed a sample of 121 galaxies and obtained deep near-infrared images. For analyzing the morphology of these galaxies, we apply two-dimensional multicomponent fitting to the data. This is done for the first time for a large sample of early-type dwarfs. A large fraction of the galaxies is shown to have complex multicomponent structures. -
Executive Summary
The Boston University Astronomy Department Annual Report 2010 Chair: James Jackson Administrator: Laura Wipf 1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 5 Faculty and Staff 5 Teaching 6 Undergraduate Programs 6 Observatory and Facilities 8 Graduate Program 9 Colloquium Series 10 Alumni Affairs/Public Outreach 10 Research 11 Funding 12 Future Plans/Departmental Needs 13 APPENDIX A: Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students 16 APPENDIX B: 2009/2010 Astronomy Graduates 18 APPENDIX C: Seminar Series 19 APPENDIX D: Sponsored Project Funding 21 APPENDIX E: Accounts Income Expenditures 25 APPENDIX F: Publications 27 Cover photo: An ultraviolet image of Saturn taken by Prof. John Clarke and his group using the Hubble Space Telescope. The oval ribbons toward the top and bottom of the image shows the location of auroral activity near Saturn’s poles. This activity is analogous to Earth’s aurora borealis and aurora australis, the so-called “northern” and “southern lights,” and is caused by energetic particles from the sun trapped in Saturn’s magnetic field. 3 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY associates authored or co-authored a total of 204 refereed, scholarly papers in the disciplines’ most The Department of Astronomy teaches science to prestigious journals. hundreds of non-science majors from throughout the university, and runs one of the largest astronomy degree The funding of the Astronomy Department, the Center programs in the country. Research within the for Space Physics, and the Institute for Astrophysical Astronomy Department is thriving, and we retain our Research was changed this past year. In previous years, strong commitment to teaching and service. only the research centers received research funding, but last year the Department received a portion of this The Department graduated a class of twelve research funding based on grant activity by its faculty. -
Astronomy and Growth in Chile
UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Previously Published Works Title Reaching for the Stars? Astronomy and Growth in Chile Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2g5196vz Journal Minerva, 53(2) ISSN 0026-4695 Author Barandiaran, J Publication Date 2015-06-17 DOI 10.1007/s11024-015-9272-7 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Reaching for the Stars? Astronomy and Growth in Chile Javiera Barandiaran Minerva A Review of Science, Learning and Policy ISSN 0026-4695 Volume 53 Number 2 Minerva (2015) 53:141-164 DOI 10.1007/s11024-015-9272-7 1 23 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +Business Media Dordrecht. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be self- archived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com”. 1 23 Author's personal copy Minerva (2015) 53:141–164 DOI 10.1007/s11024-015-9272-7 Reaching for the Stars? Astronomy and Growth in Chile Javiera Barandiaran1 Published online: 17 April 2015 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015 Abstract While scholars and policy practitioners often advocate for science and technology transfer as a motor for economic growth, many in Latin America have long warned of the pitfalls of such top-down, North-South transfers. -
Important Events in Chile
No. 87 – March 1997 Important Events in Chile R. GIACCONI, Director General of ESO The political events foreseen in the December 1996 issue of The Messenger did take place in Chile in the early part of December 1996. On December 2, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile, Mr. Miguel Insulza, and the Director General of ESO, Professor Riccardo Giacconi, exchanged in Santiago Instruments of Ratification of the new “Interpretative, Supplementary and Amending Agreement” to the 1963 Convention between the Government of Chile and the European Southern Observatory. This agreement opens a new era of co-operation between Chilean and European Astronomers. On December 4, 1996, the “Foundation Ceremony” for the Paranal Observatory took place on Cerro Paranal, in the presence of the President of Chile, Mr. Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the Royal couple of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Chile, Mr. José Miguel Insulza, the Ambassadors of the Member States, members of the of the ESO Executive, ESO staff and the Paranal contractors’ workers. The approximately 250 guests heard addresses by Dr. Peter Creo- la, President of the ESO Council, Professor Riccardo Giacconi, Direc- tor General of ESO, Foreign Minis- ter José Miguel Insulza and Presi- dent Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. The original language version of the four addresses follows this introduction. (A translation in English of the Span- ish text is given on pages 58 and 59 in this issue of The Messenger.) A time capsule whose contents are described in Dr. Richard West's article was then deposited by Presi- dent Frei with the works being bless- ed by the Archbishop of Antofagas- ta, Monsignor Patricio Infante. -
Structural Parameters of Compact Stellar Systems
Structural Parameters of Compact Stellar Systems Juan Pablo Madrid Presented in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2013 Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Swinburne University Abstract The objective of this thesis is to establish the observational properties and structural parameters of compact stellar systems that are brighter or larger than the “standard” globular cluster. We consider a standard globular cluster to be fainter than M 11 V ∼ − mag and to have an effective radius of 3 pc. We perform simulations to further un- ∼ derstand observations and the relations between fundamental parameters of dense stellar systems. With the aim of establishing the photometric and structural properties of Ultra- Compact Dwarfs (UCDs) and extended star clusters we first analyzed deep F475W (Sloan g) and F814W (I) Hubble Space Telescope images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys. We fitted the light profiles of 5000 point-like sources in the vicinity of NGC ∼ 4874 — one of the two central dominant galaxies of the Coma cluster. Also, NGC 4874 has one of the largest globular cluster systems in the nearby universe. We found that 52 objects have effective radii between 10 and 66 pc, in the range spanned by extended star ∼ clusters and UCDs. Of these 52 compact objects, 25 are brighter than M 11 mag, V ∼ − a magnitude conventionally thought to separate UCDs and globular clusters. We have discovered both a red and a blue subpopulation of Ultra-Compact Dwarf (UCD) galaxy candidates in the Coma galaxy cluster. Searching for UCDs in an environment different to galaxy clusters we found eleven Ultra-Compact Dwarf and 39 extended star cluster candidates associated with the fossil group NGC 1132. -
My Chilean Telescopes and Southern Sky Experience
Observatories at the Extreme My Chilean Telescopes and Southern Sky Experience Sian Proctor South Mountain Community College Photo by John Blackwell Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program The Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP) is a program that brings amateur astronomers, planetarium personnel, and K-16 formal and informal astronomy educators to US astronomy facilities in Chile. The ambassadors visit Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), Gemini-South Observatory, and the Atacama Large Millimeter-submillimeter Array (ALMA) along with smaller tourist observatories. The ambassadors also participate in local school outreach. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation. In 2016, nine ambassadors were chosen from across the United States to travel to Chile and learn about the observatories, researchers, and science being conducted. The image to the right is of me with my fellow ambassadors. Gemini Observatory ALMA The Gemini Observatory The Atacama Large Millimeter-submillimeter Array (ALMA) consists of twin 8.1 meter consists of sixty-six 12m (39 ft) and 7m (23 ft) radio telescopes optical/infrared telescopes located in the Atacama desert at an altitude of 5,059m (16,597 ft) located in Hawai'i on top of Mauna Kea and in Chile on Cerro Pachón. The Gemini telescopes can collectively cover both hemispheres providing a complete view of the night sky. The antennas probe deep into our universe in search of the very first stars and galaxies to help us understand our cosmic origins. Gemini is operated through an international agreement between the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Astronomers from these partnering countries can apply for time on Gemini. -
Astrotourism–Exceeding Limits of the Earth and Tourism Definitions?
sustainability Article Astrotourism–Exceeding Limits of the Earth and Tourism Definitions? Martina Pásková , Nicol Budinská and Josef Zelenka * Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic; [email protected] (M.P.); [email protected] (N.B.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Emerging forms of alternative or even niche tourism represent a dynamic trend in tourism development. Astrotourism is completely off the beaten path. The aim of this study is to provide a deeper insight into this phenomenon. It strives to reveal motivations, experiences, and perceptions of its participants. It also aspires to propose its complex definition as an activity including both terrestrial astrotourism and space tourism. It is suggested to perceive it not only as a form of alternative and/or niche tourism, but also that of mass and professional tourism. To reach these objectives, the authors analyzed relevant published studies and astrotourism products presented on relevant websites and social media. They elaborated the collected secondary data by mental mapping and the comparative analysis of terrestrial and space tourism products. Moreover, the authors collected primary data through a survey with open-ended questions addressed to persons interested in astrotourism and through semi-structured interviews with terrestrial astrotourism participants and personalities. The results provide insight into both the specifity and variability of astrotourism and their typical products, as well as a discussion of their future trends. They also bring a motivation spectrum for the astrotourism participants and benefits perceived by them. Keywords: astrotourism; space tourism; terrestrial astrotourism; tourism participant motivation; archaeoastronomy Citation: Pásková, M.; Budinská, N.; Zelenka, J. -
From “To Mars Or Not?” by Ray Jayawardhana
CASE English II Do Not Reproduce from “To Mars or Not?” by Ray Jayawardhana 1 In the mid-1990s, NASA dedicated nearly half of its budget for planetary exploration to Mars alone. That is largely because Mars is a potential habitat for past—or future—life. Mars is also, in many ways, the next logical destination for human space travelers beyond our moon, which the Apollo astronauts visited between 1969 and 1972. Mars is only about half the size of Earth, with a very thin atmosphere dominated by toxic carbon dioxide gas, a frigid climate, and massive dust storms. Yet those conditions are preferable to the hellish temperatures, bone-crushing pressures, and acid rain on our other neighbor, Venus. This is why American and European space programs have turned their focus to Mars. 2 In 2010, President Barack Obama announced a new direction for NASA, including a call to develop new rocket technologies to send humans beyond the moon. “By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth. And a landing on Mars will follow, and I expect to be around to see it,” he declared in a speech at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 3 This new national space policy replaced President George W. Bush’s 2004 plan, which would have included a return to the moon by the year 2020. Some critics, including Neil Armstrong, the first person to step on the moon, disagreed with the change in direction. President Obama responded, “I just have to say pretty bluntly—we’ve been there [to the moon] before…. -
APS News January 2019, Vol. 28, No. 1
January 2019 • Vol. 28, No. 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Plasma physics and plants APS.ORG/APSNEWS Page 3 Highlights from 2018 Blending Paint with Physics The editors of Physics (physics. The experiments sparked a series By Leah Poffenberger aps.org) look back at their favorite of theoretical studies, each attempt- 2018 APS Division of Fluid stories of 2018, from groundbreak- ing to explain this unconventional Dynamics Meeting, Atlanta— ing research to a poem inspired by behavior (see physics.aps.org/ Five years ago, Roberto Zenit, a quantum physics. articles/v11/84). One prediction physics professor at the National Graphene: A New indicates that twisted graphene’s Autonomous University of Mexico, superconductivity might also be Superconductor later reported the first observation was studying biological flows when topological, a desirable property 2018’s splashiest condensed- of the Higgs boson decaying into art historian Sandra Zetina enlisted for quantum computation. matter-physics result came bottom quarks (see physics.aps.org/ him for a project: using fluid from two sheets of graphene. The Higgs Shows up with the articles/v11/91). This decay is the dynamics to uncover the secret Researchers in the USA and Japan Heaviest Quarks most likely fate of the Higgs boson, behind modern art techniques. reported finding superconductiv- After detecting the Higgs boson but it was extremely difficult to At this year’s Division of Fluid ity in stacked graphene bilayers in 2012, the next order of business see above the heavy background Dynamics meeting—his 20th— ids, a person who has developed in which one layer is twisted with was testing whether it behaves as of bottom quarks generated in a Zenit, an APS Fellow and member certain knowledge about the way respect to the other. -
Draft181 182Chapter 10
Chapter 10 Formation and evolution of the Local Group 480 Myr <t< 13.7 Gyr; 10 >z> 0; 30 K > T > 2.725 K The fact that the [G]alactic system is a member of a group is a very fortunate accident. Edwin Hubble, The Realm of the Nebulae Summary: The Local Group (LG) is the group of galaxies gravitationally associ- ated with the Galaxy and M 31. Galaxies within the LG have overcome the general expansion of the universe. There are approximately 75 galaxies in the LG within a 12 diameter of ∼3 Mpc having a total mass of 2-5 × 10 M⊙. A strong morphology- density relation exists in which gas-poor dwarf spheroidals (dSphs) are preferentially found closer to the Galaxy/M 31 than gas-rich dwarf irregulars (dIrrs). This is often promoted as evidence of environmental processes due to the massive Galaxy and M 31 driving the evolutionary change between dwarf galaxy types. High Veloc- ity Clouds (HVCs) are likely to be either remnant gas left over from the formation of the Galaxy, or associated with other galaxies that have been tidally disturbed by the Galaxy. Our Galaxy halo is about 12 Gyr old. A thin disk with ongoing star formation and older thick disk built by z ≥ 2 minor mergers exist. The Galaxy and M 31 will merge in 5.9 Gyr and ultimately resemble an elliptical galaxy. The LG has −1 vLG = 627 ± 22 km s with respect to the CMB. About 44% of the LG motion is due to the infall into the region of the Great Attractor, and the remaining amount of motion is due to more distant overdensities between 130 and 180 h−1 Mpc, primarily the Shapley supercluster. -